A/N: Hopefully this chapter will answer some questions…and I need some advice on Piotr. I know he doesn't have a complete grasp of the English language, but in Evolution, I never saw him as having a heavy accent like Kurt. Therefore, I wrote him without an accent, but with hindered speech. Please tell me what you think about that. And the bold is either the TV or the phone. I know most people use italics, but I will be using italics for the purpose of memories and don't want people to get confused. Oh, and Ororo's chapter is next. Sorry about not putting her in this one, but it got kinda long.

Kitty Pryde was perched on a bench in the small gazebo talking ninety to nothing. As much as she was known for talking, most did not realize the way she could pull a conversation out of anyone. She set missions for herself to try and find out the most she could about people. Her first project at the mansion had been Kurt; then Rogue (who was still a work in progress); now it was Piotr.

"So, what is she like?" Piotr sat next to her, eyes alert, taking in every part of the conversation. He had never been one for words, especially not in English, but Kitty was interesting. Most of all, she was interested in him, in his life.

"Illyana is like you, mostly. Except around strangers. She can be very shy until she knows you. Then she will not be silent." Colossus settled his back against the railing, deep in thought about his little sister. "She was the only one in my family who was happy when I decided to come here."

"After Magneto?"

"Yes. After him. Turns out, he had no idea where my family was. But I found them. Remy helped."

"I can't image you and Remy flouncing about Russia together," she giggled. Piotr was the strong silent type, while Remy was…well Remy.

"He is very loyal, Remy. But when we found them, my brother had already been drafted to the army. My parents were afraid of my leaving Russia again. Illyana was the only one who supported me." He sighed at the memory.

"I'm sure your parents are proud of you!"

"Pride is different in Russia, Kitty. Family comes first always." He bestowed on her a small smile. "Illyana knew I would be happiest here in America. I wanted to bring her with me…"

"Your parents didn't want her to go, huh?" Piotr shook his head.

"You do not understand my culture, Kitty. My parents care for their children, but they do not know what is best sometimes."

"No, I totally get it." She placed her hand on his knee. "You really love your family, don't you?" Piotr nodded, surprising her by taking her hand into his. His eyes had lit up with an idea, triggered by what she had just said.

"Любовь," he whispered softly.

"Ok…clearly that's Russian for something," she said, laughing. "But according to my teachers, I slaughter the English language, and I speak it, so help me out here."

"Любовь," he said again, only this time he drew out the word so she could mimic it.

"Lu-bov." Kitty tried her best to say the unknown word correctly, but failed miserably causing Piotr chuckled.

"No, the end is soft. Try again. Lu-bof," he repeated slowly.

"Lubof!" Kitty exclaimed. Then she got a curious look on her face. "What does it mean?"

"Love." The blush that reddened Kitty's cheeks was deeper than it had ever been in her life. Her heart pounded as she tried to comprehend the meaning of what he just said. Out of all the boys she had dated in the past, there had never been a moment like this. Leave it to the Russian.

Jean ran up to Professor Xavier's office from the downstairs TV room. She apologized as she burst through his closed door. Logan had been speaking with the older man privately, but this just could not wait.

"You need to see this." She flipped on the television, tuning it to the local news station. Scott came to the door just as the broadcaster came on.

"Police have arrested mutant Erik Lensherr for the vicious assassination of Mayor Kelly. He is better known as Magneto, who has been terrorizing the city of Bayville for several years now."

The helicopter camera zoomed in on Magneto being led into the police station, flanked by several police officers. The camera view changed to ground level as the Police Chief Darrel Harrison approached the press.

"Magneto has been on our watch list for quite a while, but we have been unable to catch him. It seems that his quest for mutant dominance has taken an extreme turn. We have evidence that Mr. Lensherr murdered Mayor Kelly and he will be prosecuted."

Jean, Scott, Logan, and Charles watched as protesters on the streets rallied against mutants and the anchor man for the news channel began to describe mutant transgressions from the past. Before either adult could speak, Scott popped a question.

"Why did he allow them to take him in? It would be easy for him to escape?"

"As much as Erik likes to be in the public eye, this is not good publicity," spoke Charles, warily watching the scene on the TV.

"Not good publicity? This paints 'murder' on all mutants!" shouted Logan in an outrage.

"I knew they thought a mutant did it," said Jean, "but I can't believe it was Magneto."

"You can't believe that? Kelly was going to crucify us and I can guarantee you Magneto wasn't going to take that sitting down."

"Jean has a point, Scott." The Professor held up a hand when Scott tried to protest. "Erik is not known for his tact, but this is a little out of character for him. He does not believe in cold blooded murder."

"Think he's just a scapegoat 'cause the cops can't catch the real killer?" asked Logan. Charles shrugged and reached for the phone.

"Hopefully my relationship with Chief Harrison has not been dwindled too much over past events." He dialed a familiar number and motioned for the others to leave the room. "Gather the X-Men," he told them as they shut the door.

"This is Harrison."

"Chief Harrison, this is Charles Xavier."

"Hello, sir. I guess you've seen the news."

"Yes." Charles waited, weighing his options carefully.

"You don't think he did it, do you?"

"Darrel, I have always respected your department, but I have to ask under what grounds you arrested Mr. Lensherr. The public already has a negative view of mutants and this will only antagonize the situation."

"My department is not alone on this. When we figured we'd be looking for a mutant, we called in the Feds. They seemed all too happy to help, come to think of it. Usually the big boys don't like to play with small city kids. However, Magneto's on most people's Most Wanted list."

"I understand that. I merely ask that I am kept in the loop."

"I'll do my best, sir. But it is an ongoing investigation and I have to say, lately your record hasn't been squeaky clean itself."

"I understand that, also. I do have one request. I would like to speak to Erik Lensherr."

"He's already making his one phone call as we speak. But I'll see what I can do. Good day, Mr. Xavier."

"Thank you, Darrel."

Magneto thought long and hard when he was handed the phone. His first instinct was to call Charles, but the balding guy (who come to find out, was the Police Chief) had just been told he had a call from a Mr. Xavier. The number he wanted to call had gone unanswered so many times in the past; it was risky to use as his 'one phone call'. Most criminals used it to phone a lawyer. However, Magneto wasn't most criminals. As he started to dial the number, he remembered why it was committed to memory.

"You know, you haven't been completely honest with me." Erik stopped walking and looked at the white-haired woman to his right.

"Pardon?" They had been walking in a much needed quiet. She had slipped her hand in the crook of his arm; not to close, but enough to establish them as friends. Of course, to anyone else they looked like a graying couple with their silver hair and silence.

"The first time we met, I asked you what you feared most." Ororo removed her hand and placed it on her hip. It was a look her nephew knew too well.

"I told you. My own death." He offered her his arm again, but she refused.

"I think there is more to you than that." Erik studied her blue eyes for a moment.

"You don't have children, you wouldn't understand."

"Try me," came the stubborn reply. "I do live with several hormonal teenagers."

"And they all love you," he replied, equally as stubborn. A realization came over her face and she gave a soft smile.

"You think they do not love you."

"I was never a father to them, especially Wanda."

"Have you tried to be their father?" Erik looked at Storm with a bewildered expression, as if the thought had never occurred to him. "Maybe they need you as much as you need them."

"And how do you suggest I start?" he asked sarcastically.

"How about a phone call?" She swatted at him when he rolled his eyes. "I am serious."

"They are not going to talk to me."

"You never know until you try."

And he had tried. It took four calls to Pietro before his son agreed to speak to him. The first conversation did not last very long, but had ended in an agreement to have lunch. Pietro, unlike his sister, was ever so willing to win back his father's heart. The irony of the entire situation was that both Erik and his son wanted the other's respect so much that it had perverted their vision of one another.

That was three months ago. It had taken until two weeks ago for Wanda to join the conversations. Most of the time the teenager did not have much to say- there was too much bitterness between the girl and her father. But it was a start; a start Erik feared would never get past that if he was convicted of murder.

The phone rang once, twice, three times. Just as Erik began to lose hope, a familiar voice picked up.

"Hullo? This is Quicksilver. Make it snappy, I have places to be and people to see."

"Pietro?"

"Dad?" Erik could hear him call for his sister. "Didcha do it?"

"No."

"Well, that's boring. Guess you wanna us to come break you out?"

"Actually, I have other plans for you. Listen carefully…"

The X-Men, including the New Mutants, had gathered in Professor Xavier's office and were watching the end of the ten o'clock news. As the program wrapped up, they all turned to their leaders.

"Before we get started, where is Ororo?" The group looked around confused. It was rare that Ororo was late or absent from anything, especially something as important as this.

"Her car wasn't in the garage when I went down there 'bout an hour ago," said Logan.

"I was just up in her green house reading, but she never came up to water her plants after dinner," shrugged Amara.

"Was she even at dinner?" asked Jean. "I don't remember seeing her."

"I went looking for her about an hour ago," said Kitty, "but she wasn't in her room.

"She wasn't in the game room," commented Bobby. "Not that she ever is, but thought I'd point that out."

"When was the last time anyone saw her?" asked Logan suspiciously.

"Ah spoke to her around five-ish," Rogue said. "But Ah haven't seen her since."

"We will worry about Storm in a moment. Right now, we have guests." Charles had a hand to his temple.

"Who?"

"The Brotherhood."